NEC downs PSC in NCAA Tournament

Nov 01, 2000

PLYMOUTH, N.H. - Sophomore Laura Buffa
(Wolfeboro, N.H.) scored her team-leading 22nd goal of the season
in the first half Wednesday, and that ended up as the game-winner
as New England College held off Plymouth State College in the first
round of the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship at Arold
Field.

The victory advances the Pilgrims (15-2) into a second-round
game Saturday in Amherst, Mass., against William Smith College
(16-1). Plymouth State completes an outstanding season at 15-5.

Plymouth State outshot the Pilgrims in both halves, but was
unable to crack the NEC net. The Panthers finished with 26 total
shots, including 14 in the second half, while NEC was credited with
11 shots, eight in the second half. PSC also had the advantage in
penalty corners, 11-6.

"It certainly is nice to take one from them on their own field,"
said NEC coach Susan Murray, "especially since we lost to them here
just a couple of weeks ago, and that was in double overtime. This
has been a good in-state rivalry, and we have been evenly matched
the past couple of years. It's always been a great game."

"Boy we had our chances today," said PSC coach Bonnie
Lord. "We outcornered them and outshot them, we just
didn't capitalize on our opportunities. Everyone seemed to be one
step or a half step behind today. We just couldn't cash in on our
opportunities."

Plymouth State came out strong in the first half, peppering NEC
with six shots in the first five minutes. After finally getting the
ball into PSC territory, the Pilgrims connected on their first shot
on goal 6:56 into the game. NEC senior Beth Howe (Bryant Pond,
Maine) sent a crossing pass from the right side which Buffa
deflected past PSC goalie Ellen Ward (Thorndike, ME).

"The goal was a very nice play," said Murray. "When the ball
comes down the center or the right, we work on a give and go. When
the ball came back across to the middle, Buffa just knocked it in.
We're very happy about the goal, because that's a play we work on."

"It was a beautiful goal," said Lord. "They did a nice job and
executed well. There was definitely a lapse in the defense. We play
a zone type of defense, and their player slipped through and our
goalie was screened. It was a nice goal."

The Panthers put plenty of pressure on the NEC cage the rest of
the first half, outshooting the Pilgrims 12-3. PSC added more
pressure in the second half, making but couldn't get one past NEC
keeper Krista Milroy (West Springfield, Mass.). Milroy finished
with eight saves, four in each half, while Ward made five saves for
PSC, four in the final 35 minutes.

NEC advances to meet William Smith in one second-round game
Saturday at Amherst College (11 a.m.), while Amherst (14-2) faces
Cortland State (12-4) in the other game at that site (2 p.m.). The
two winners Saturday battle Sunday at 1 p.m. for the right to go to
the national semifinals on Nov. 11th, with the national
championship game slated for Sunday, Nov. 12th.